Kinkeeping Across Families: The Central Role of Mothers and Stepmothers in the Facilitation of Adult Intergenerational Ties

Abstract A kinkeeper is the person within household that involved in management of family relationships, a position traditionally fulfilled by women. Due to increased complexity life, which resulted from rise divorce and remarriage, role might nowadays be particularly important but also more ambiguous. First, we examined differences parental involvement kinkeeping (buying presents, organizing outings, relaying news, discussing problems) along lines gender, structure, biological relatedness. Second, explored whether parents their partners effective facilitation intergenerational closeness with adult children. We used OKiN survey, includes information on N = 746 intact, 982 mother-stepfather, 1,010 father-stepmother families. Findings indicated central facilitative for mothers stepmothers. Substantial gaps were found between fathers, married divorced parents, stepparents respect (variety of) these involved. Yet, contrasts relatedness structure gendered, as smaller than fathers. Finally, an association was spouse, regardless nature relationship spouse child. This implies stepmother can just mother facilitating ties father his